By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly on Tuesday 25th Juneratified the protocol on the African Charter on Rights of Older Persons in Africa.The African Charter makes specific provisions for the protection of rights of Older Persons, under Article 18(4) which stipulates that OlderPersons and people with disabilities shall alsohave the right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.
The Minister of Agriculture Demba Sabally, tabled the motion on behalf of the Minister of Gender Children and Social Welfare FatouKinteh.
Minister Sabally told lawmakers that the government signed the protocol on the 11th of February 1983 and exceeded to in June 1983.
The African Union Social Policy Framework 2008 and Policy Framework on plan of focus of action on aging 2002 requested the AfricanCommission on Human and People’s Rights to elaborate and adopt an additional protocol to African charter on Human and People’s Rightsrelating to rights of Older Persons in Africa.
According to him, subsequently heads of States and government through the AfricanUnion Assembly decision 589 in January2016, adopted the protocol to the AfricanCharter.
He said the African Union Commission recognizes that aging is a pertinent cross-cutting and development issue in Africa and that the demographic dividend of olderpersons is expanding.
In addition in changing family structures reducing support yet older persons and evenwas older persons with disability are still not granted priority at national level in terms of solid policies and resources to implement thispolicies.
“Most challenging is our traditional approachto reciprocal care for the aging due to rural urban migration the focus on smaller familyunit to the disadvantage of our extendedfamily structure which used to nurturereciprocal care for older age and the transfer of values, tradition and culture”, he stated
He notes that with the adoption of thisprotocol the Gambia will demonstrate that it iscommitted in ensuring that human and people’s rights of old ages are respected and protected as promised in the African Charter.
Member for Upper Fulladu West, Bakary Kora thanked the Minister for tabling the protocoland went on to quote section 31 sub section 1 of the constitution which states that rights of older persons should be respected by the state or the society.
Old Yundum Constituency lawmaker, AblieCeesay said the protocol is the first of its kindin the parliament adding that Nigeria, Ghana and a lot of countries around West Africa alsoadopted the same protocol. “This protocol isinforming the government to take commitmentin making sure that all the needs of olderpersons are provided.”
“We hail government for bringing such a protocol to the assembly for ratification,” headded.
